I did a combination email/phone interview with Colette Heimowitz, M.S, VP for nutrition Communication & Education with Atkins Nutritionals, Inc this past week. I sent her the questions I had gathered and she in turn answered them via email. We then had a discussion on the phone. She is such a very intelligent and sweet woman. I thank her for taking her time to help us at LCF. She has always been very gracious with her time. If any of you have additional questions now or in the future feel free to PM me as I can get the answers and PM them back and also add them to this post.

In our phone conversation we talked about how to fix a damaged metabolism. She said if you have hurt your metabolism because of yo yo dieting or being on a starvation diet you can repair it. I wanted to confirm with her what I felt would help people rev up their metabolisms. One thing we talked about was how exercise plays a major role in keeping your metabolisms going. Especially weightlifting and building your muscle mass. I asked her when the best time to exercise was? She said while exercise is great at any time it is very beneficial to heat up your body in the morning to get your metabolism fired up. She suggested a stationary bike while drinking your morning coffee... Or perhaps a quick run on the treadmill or as I like.. a brisk walk with the dog in the am. This will get your metabolism started for the day. Eating six smaller meals in the day is suggested as well. She also suggests you get rid of the scale for awhile as you are changing your eating habits to a more healthy WOE. There are many things that can inhibit weightloss.. stress... not enough sleep.. skipping meals and not exercising are some so if you get rid of the scale (and I know of someone that locked it into their vehicles trunk so they wouldn't be tempted to weigh) you need to not stress out about this... use your measuring tape instead for a few weeks. As one person that has lost 160 pounds at a healthy pace I have found that it takes a lot for me to gain weight. When you lose weight fast it tends to come back on faster.

Here are the questions that Colette answered for us..

[color=red]Copying any part of this interview is not permitted without express consent from Colette Heimowitz of Atkins Nutritionals and Lowcarbfriends.com[/color]

QUESTION:

I am eating without cheating. I weigh and measure everything.
4 oz protein and 3/4c vegge are my serving size I cut back dairy and fat is only a little evoo or peanut oil.

I have barely lost five lbs in two and a half months.

Dr took a metabolic blood test.
If a blood test for metabolisim shows I am normal why such slow fat burning?

In a situation such as this what else can I do to make the fat burn away? Perhaps cut the protein serving down to 3 oz.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

When individuals follow very low-calorie diets their basal metabolic rate will slow down to compensate for the low caloric intake. This is the body's survival response to preserve its internal organs and muscle mass. If someone is following the Atkins protocol correctly, he or she should not be taking in fewer than 1,800 calories daily from protein, natural fats and vegetable sources. This energy supply should not cause a drop in the metabolic rate, but rather maintain the rate while using primarily fat (instead of carbohydrate) as a fuel for needed energy.

I would advise counting calories for a few days to do a reality check, make sure you are not starving yourself.

True, too many calories can stall weight loss as well, but some folks shoot too low for an Atkins type approach and go into a starvation mode.

If you are on a weight-loss plateau, cutting back on or omitting food intolerance like cheese and nuts altogether may be all it takes to get you back on the road to weight loss. You will need to experiment to determine which foods may be the culprit.

Don't get discouraged. Exercise is by far the most profound way to break a plateau. If you are not exercising, start, if you are exercising, step it up a bit.[/COLOR]

QUESTION:

What can a person do to get rid of that hyped up, jittery, strung out feeling that comes with ketosis? It seriously is what makes me fall off the wagon each time I do Atkins. I get to the point where I am exhausted but still cant sleep and almost feel like my skin is crawling.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

That is not a typical reaction to ketosis; it sounds more like low blood sugar. Even when following Atkins, it is important for you to eat six small meals or three meals and two to three snacks daily. Some people need to eat every three to four waking hours.
Be alert to the signs and symptoms of the onset of that strung out feeling for the first few days of Atkins and if you feel it is necessary, select higher carbohydrate foods that will not interfere with the program. These could include tomato and cheese, broccoli and other higher carbohydrate veggies, nuts and seeds or a half cup of tomato juice. You also have the option to start the program in the OWL phase if you feel better with a few lower glycemic carbohydrate selections [/COLOR]

QUESTION:

I have only had about 2 good nights sleep in the last month but I am still not tired. I do not drink caffeine except for one green tea at about 7a.m. This diet is the best speed out there but I ache all over and my brain is foggy.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

There are a few people who experience uncomfortable symptoms during their first few weeks following the Atkins Nutritional Approach. Most often this means that the process is going too fast for their particular metabolism, they're losing weight, water and certain minerals too fast, and their bodies can't keep pace with these quick changes. One sign can be sleeplessness. These reactions can be aggravated by hot weather, when you are already losing minerals through sweat or by taking a diuretic. Obviously, drinking lots of water is essential.

If you experience these problems, simply slow down your weight loss by adding another helping of vegetables to your evening meal or one or two ounces of nuts or seeds. Although your body would almost certainly adjust during the following weeks, there isn't any good reason for feeling sickly for even one day. After the symptoms abate, you can go back to the lower level of carb intake or stay where you are and lose weight a slight pace slower.[/COLOR]

QUESTION:

Can you ask her about hair loss? I'd really like to know what to do about it and if Biotin is the answer, will the hair fall out again if I stop taking it?

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

It is natural to go through periodic phases of shedding hair. But if this is an ongoing problem, make sure you're not restricting calories or skipping meals. Any weight-loss regimen may lower your metabolic rate, which can result in hair loss. Unlike calorie-restricted diets, Atkins is the least likely of any weight-loss program to contribute to hair loss because the higher caloric content keeps the body from behaving as though it is in a starvation mode. When that happens, your metabolism is lowered as a survival mechanism. If someone is following the Atkins protocol correctly, he or she should not be taking in fewer than 1,800 calories daily from protein, natural fats and vegetable sources. This energy supply should not cause a drop in the metabolic rate, but rather maintain the rate while using primarily fat (instead of carbohydrate) as a fuel for needed energy.

Alternatively, you might be low in some specific nutrients that could affect your hair loss. You might try adding biotin, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), glutathione and lecithin to your diet. Once the deficiency is corrected which takes several months, you should not need to stay on these supplements forever.

If excessive hair loss continues, see your doctor.[/COLOR]

QUESTION:

That is my exact concern! Last year, i went very low in both calories and carbs and ran about 4 miles a day. I got below my goal weight (122 lbs, a little too small for me bc im 5'9") and over the past year gained back the weight by eating strictly during the week and then pigging out on the weekends. I felt so deprived from my previous way of life that any food (mostly when i came home from college on the weekends) i would stuff down. Im back up to 147 and have gone on and off induction many times in the past few months. Ill stick with it for about a week then cheat if i don't see any weight loss. After reinducting earlier in the summer (after being off plan for a while), i lost 8 lbs in a week. I get discouraged and cheat, so ive been in this cycle. PLEASE let me know what she tells you about messing up the metabolism and i remember reading in the 2003 version that Dr. atkins mentioned people who have abused induction by being strict during the week then cheating every weekend. I did this and now im trying to fix this. Thanks so much in advance!!! I can't wait for her responses.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

Reaching your goal weight is not—or should not be—about dieting. It's about changing your body, and your mind-set, permanently and for the better. It is—or should be—actually just the opposite of the start-and-stop process that most people consider a diet. I tell my patients that they should plan not just on losing weight, but also on restoring energy and feeling their physical best. All they have to do is exercise regularly, start an intelligent nutritional supplementation plan and eat the healthiest foods imaginable. Sound like a lot? Hardly. In fact, it sounds like a cinch.
On the other hand, anyone who “diets” in the sense that the word has been used in this country for almost a century is clearly not seeking a permanent eating plan. Such folks bought their ticket on the diet bus for a little quick fat removal, and once that's accomplished, they get off at the first available stop and go back to foods that fundamentally make them feel awful.
Then six or ten or whatever months later, they say, "Oops, time for another diet." Such a yo-yo approach is not only an ineffective way to produce a great-looking body, but it could damage your health. And it makes your body progressively resistant to weight loss.
Don’t be like that. If you eat healthy foods—think caveman fundamentals: fish, fowl, meat, vegetables, nuts, seeds, berries and, as you approach your goal weight, some low-glycemic fruit, as well as legumes and whole grains—and avoid refined, sugar-laden junk food, then, you’ll be halfway home. Needless to say, you’ll get a lot closer to your desired weight; you can hardly help it!
But let's not pretend eating right is everything. It's just the first thing. Doing Atkins properly is doing yourself a favor up and down the line. It's a sort of conversion. You were issued a body at birth, and chances are it was a pretty functional one. Like most of us, you probably messed around with it and didn't treat it right. Here’s your chance to reacquaint yourself with it and to give it the loving care that will make it hum.

The good news is that any damage you did by messing around with your metabolism can be corrected with exercise and the Atkins lifestyle. How long it takes e will depend on how far down the path you have traveled, and for how long. Just know it can and has been down successfully by all of us. [/COLOR]

QUESTION:

Id also like to know her 'take' on people who do Atkins for a second time or third.

Is it really true that its MORe DIFFICULT the second time around? Also if you are older in age is it more difficult?

I know a lot of us 're-treaders' would love to have more info on this.

Thanx so much!!

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

By doing Atkins (and I think this approach is the most carefully worked out form of healthy caveman eating) you'll make it possible for your body to function at its highest level—for a lifetime! Which makes a lot of other things possible in life. Like having fun, working hard, getting a good night's sleep, pursuing that perfect romance. . .or playing with the kids, or even the grandkids.

But let's not pretend eating right is everything. It's just the first thing. Doing Atkins properly is doing yourself a favor up and down the line. It's a sort of conversion. You were issued a body at birth, and chances are it was a pretty functional one. Like most of us, you probably messed around with it and didn't treat it right. Here’s your chance to reacquaint yourself with it and to give it the loving care that will make it hum.

Instead of being worried about the perils of ‘re-treaders’,why not form a new partnership with your body? If it could talk, it would say: Treat me right, and I'll treat you right. Now that's reciprocity.

I'm longing to convince every person in this community that by building a few hours of exercise into their weekly schedule, taking vitamin supplements and eating delicious, unabashedly healthy, energy-supporting foods, they can live at a level of happiness and intensity that in many cases they will have forgotten was possible.

This is true for us aging folks as well. Exercise will change a sluggish metabolism at any age. Studies published in the very best medical journals and talked about in the news media—showing that controlling your carbs is as good for long-term health as it is for short-term weight loss and vitality. Want to lower your triglycerides, your cholesterol and your blood pressure? This is the program that does it. Want to protect yourself against diabetes, an increasingly epidemic health risk in this country? Atkins is the gold standard.

I hope I've convinced you. If I have, you won't ever want to stop doing Atkins once you start. Forget about dieting; this will be a whole new way of life. And take my word for it: The difference between just living and living when you're really on your game is dramatic.[/COLOR]

Does exercising regularly in a certain HR (heartrate) zone will raise the metabolism? I've heard different opinions on this, and I would like to hear what she has to say?

how about cycling diet plans? does this shake up the metabolism at all?

(I think she is asking about doing ******* and atkins back and forth and how that affects metabolism.. problem is "*******" is lowfat, lowcalorie and lowcarb.. some eat as little as 300 calories and since that is not a healthy diet plan they are cycling with there could be some very negative affects doing this.. do you agree Colette? cheri)

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

I firmly support cycling exercise routines NOT eating habits.

First, Use Different Types of Exercise for Fitness and Muscle Strength

You can't train for heart muscle fitness and skeletal muscle strength with the same exercises. To strengthen your heart muscle, you must exercise vigorously enough to speed up your heart rate and keep it elevated for a while. To strengthen your skeletal muscles, you need to exercise against increasing resistance in short, hard bouts. This will boost even a sluggish metabolism.

To make your heart muscle stronger, you need to exercise vigorously enough to make your heart pump more blood. The formula for heart-lung fitness is to exercise intensely enough to raise your heart rate at least 20 beats a minute above your resting rate at least three times a week. If you can't exercise continuously for thirty minutes, work until you feel tired, rest, then repeat the cycle, and gradually build up your endurance. The longer and harder you exercise, the more blood you circulate and the stronger your heart will become and the more fit your metabolism will be.

To strengthen your skeletal muscles, you need to exercise against increasing resistance by lifting weights, pushing against strength-training machines, or moving against gravity (such as jogging or cycling up hills). The greater the resistance without causing injury, the greater the gain in strength. However, when you exercise against resistance, your muscles fatigue very rapidly. If you exercise against resistance for more than 50 continuous seconds, you increase your risk of tearing your muscles.

A good program to strengthen both your heart and your skeletal muscles would include cycling, swimming or jogging on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and using strength machines on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Second, find a program that you can live with and follow it for the rest of your life. Sort of like a good marriage. Don’t date diets!

With its ability to help you lose weight, improve your lipid profile and blood pressure, increase your energy and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and many other life-threatening conditions, the Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM is indeed a healthier, more balanced way of eating and living.

The Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM (ANATM) should not be followed as a quick way to shed a few pounds. The approach is meant for those that seek a lifestyle change that involves better eating habits, ultimately leading to better health and a sense of well-being. Scientific research is increasingly demonstrating the benefits of a controlled-carbohydrate approach in the face of the standard American diet. [/COLOR]

[B]QUESTION:[B]

How about how it relates to Menopause? This time it has been almost impossible for me t lose weight! I am even taking my HRT every OTHER day to see if that helps! I know I should talk to my doctor and I will when I'm due, but it's just an experiment!

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

You’ve no doubt heard the anonymous prayer that asks for the serenity to accept the things we cannot change. For most of us, this includes the weather, gravity and certain family members. But how about gaining weight in middle age? Is it a fact that, no matter how diligent we are, the pounds will creep on alongside those smile lines and crow’s feet? Here’s good news: Research and experts in the field concur that gaining weight need not be an inevitable side effect of aging.

Gaining weight as we age is all about muscle mass. Between our mid-20s and mid-50s, we lose an average of about one half pound of muscle and add about a pound and a half of fat each year—resulting in a net gain of about one pound. The process is much more gradual in our 20s and speeds up as we get older. The key is in the loss of muscle: Because of this gradual atrophying of muscle tissue, our resting metabolic rate decreases by about 5 percent each year. In the average sedentary American, the resting metabolic rate is responsible for burning about 75 percent of the calories we consume. The more muscle you have, the more energy your body consumes to feed, maintain and repair that tissue.

The good news is that physical activity is a reliable and effective tool in staving off this virtually inevitable assault on our aging bodies. How much activity? Just 30 minutes a day of strength training plus 20 minutes of aerobic exercise should do the trick.

After insulin, Dr. Atkins believed that hormome replacement therapy (HRT) is a leading offender in terms of inhibited weight loss. Menopausal women who take estrogen or an estrogen-progesterone combo have a lot of trouble shedding pounds. In fact, weight gain, water retention and skyrocketing triglyceride levels are well-known side effects of HRT. "There are better, more natural ways to treat menopause symptoms," Dr. Atkins said. "Folic acid in prescription-strength doses, for example, helps minimize many symptoms, as do other nutrients, such as boron, soy isoflavones and herbs such as agnus cactus and dong quai." Also, consume moderate amounts of soy products.

If it is impossible for you to stop HRT, then become an exercise fanatic, and you will be fine.[/COLOR]

QUESTION:

I'm very interested to hear her response to the age and menopause questions. Not in menopause yet, but getting close ..

Would you ask her what are the best ways to support a healthy metabolism if we don't seem to have problems yet? Or to put it another, thing we should never do because they cause irreparable damage to the metabolism.

Also, how to determine if metabolism is truly the problem.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

On the Atkins program you should be taking in sufficient calories and protein which increases metabolism and spares muscle mass. The needed protein will also increase thermogeneses (body heat) which will boost metabolism. This can avert slowing down the metabolism as we age and also correct a metabolism that has become sluggish. When individuals follow very low-calorie diets their basal metabolic rate will slow down to compensate for the low caloric intake. This is the body's survival response to preserve its internal organs and muscle mass. If someone is following the Atkins protocol correctly, he or she should not be taking in fewer than 1500 to 1800 calories daily. This energy supply should not cause a drop in the metabolic rate, but rather maintain the rate while using primarily fat (instead of carbohydrate) as a fuel for needed energy. How long this correction will take in your case is unknown. I would suggest giving it a few months at least.[/COLOR]

QUESTION:

I would like to know about the age and dead metabolism too. I lost about 60 or so pounds on Atkins a few years ago, kept it off for a couple years, gained most of it back, then yo-yoed for a couple years. I think I really hurt myself about 2 years ago by doing that goofy meat and egg thing for a while. I lost about 17 pounds in 2 weeks but got deathly ill (potassium and blood pressure problems) and had a gout/arthritis crisis that almost put me in the hospital. I knew better but was desperate.

Now, I cannot get the weight to budge. No matter what I try. I talked to a R.D. a while back to see if she had any ideas. She had me keep a food journal and we tried to figure out from that what the problem could be but no luck. I was eating between 1300-1500 calories, 30-60 grams carbs, about 30 % protein and 50 -60% fat. I am 55 years old, post menopausal, have a very physically demanding job and exercise on a pretty regular basis. (I'm an avid bike rider, love to garden and walk my dogs)

I have been on BP meds since I was 32, have extremely high total cholesterol (at one point over 500 ON lc) with low good and high bad cholesterol. Total is in the range of about 230 now but I don't take meds for it. My triglycerides was over 1000 when I started low carbing and now down to less than 100. I have been on hormone replacement for about 10 years (estrogen/testosterone) and have tried to wean off but have non stop hot flashes and I can't take that! I had a heart attack a year ago and had 2 stents placed and then had a big old GI bleed from an ulcer. (from mobic and plavix).

I know I sound like a train wreck (LOL) but I really feel great physically when I stay low carb. But I just can't lose weight now and don't know what to do. I've been cheat free since June and have lost 10 pounds from then til now. I think I lost 8 of those during induction.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. I've tried increasing and decreasing calories, carbs and fats. Nothing has worked so far.

Congratulations! Based on your medication and health history a 10 pound loss is great!!!

With its ability to help you lose weight, improve your lipid profile and blood pressure, increase your energy and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and many other life-threatening conditions, the Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM is indeed a healthier, more balanced way of eating and living. Have this be your motivation rather then a number on the scale.

The Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM should not be followed as a quick way to shed a few pounds. The approach is meant for those that seek a lifestyle change that involves better eating habits, ultimately leading to better health and a sense of well-being. Scientific research is increasingly demonstrating the benefits of a controlled-carbohydrate approach.

Virtually all medications will inhibit weight loss. Doctors who work with the Atkins Nutritional Approach can usually use it and certain supplements to help you taper you to minimal doses.

It is perfectly natural for you to lose weight in fits and starts. Usually, if you are stick with the program consistantly and long enough weight loss will resume. It may take a month or two once you figure out a few things.

A plateau—meaning an inexplicable pause in weight loss that cannot be traced back to dietary misdemeanors or lifestyle changes—can happen in the later stages of weight loss, after the first, “easy” pounds have come off. Fortunately, plateaus are seldom permanent and usually yield to certain strategies. First, figure out if there is any number of offending foods to reconsider.

Cutting back on or omitting food intolerance like milk/cheese and nuts altogether may be all it takes to get you back on the road to weight loss. You will need to experiment to determine which foods may be the culprit by the process of elimination.

Don't get discouraged. Any weight gain is probably only water weight than fat weight. Hang in there and stay in the Induction/ OWL phase until you figure a few things out. Stay calm. Do not give up.

Take your measurements and see if there is some change there.

Boost your intensity of exercise. You may have reached your neutral point and what you are doing is just maintaining your fitness level rather than pushing it to the next level[/COLOR]

QUESTION:

please ask her if she agrees with the ANA's ( Atkins Nutritonal Approach) stance on allowing low carb frankenfood products to be a part of the induction plan or does she stand by Dr Atkins whole natural foods as the way to change our eating for life.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

As a nutritionist one of the Advantages of the ANA that I like the best is that it can be individualized to suit a persons likes, dislikes, tastes and lifestyle. We are all heading in the same direction of permanent weight control and vibrant health but the paths we choose to get there may be very different.

There are 14 studies to date showing results of 6 month to 1 year follow up in which participants were given two serving of Atkins Bars or Shakes daily as part of the research protocol. The products did not interfere with weight loss and, in those studies that allowed Atkins products; there was better compliance and retention. In fact there was one researcher in another study from the Veteran's Administration who was opposed to using Atkins Products with her patient population and had a tougher time with compliance and retention and had less weight loss due to cheating compared to programs that allowed a daily Atkins product. At the end of the year, her study participants were consuming far higher levels of carbohydrates than the patient population who were allowed to use Atkins products, and the drop out rate was much higher.

While I agree that there are some individuals who may need a two week period of withdrawal from sweet tasting foods to break an addiction, there are also those individuals who would not succeed without a healthy substitute.

So my advice is usually as follows; if you can't stop at one bar or drink at a time, if products are sacrificing your intake of whole foods, or you find yourself eating more than two per day, then stay away from Atkins products for two weeks until you have things under control. Each individual has to determine for themselves what works or doesn't work.

Otherwise there is no reason why one should avoid Atkins products in Induction.

Dr Atkins always envisioned moving from just the diet to lifestyle changes that created new and exiting nutritionally reinforced foods to enhance diets as well as satisfy the needs of the rampant diabetes epidemic with low sugar products. He helped develop the foods that still are part of the ANI stable
[/COLOR]

Is atkins nutritionals going out of business? Where have the products gone? Is the only ones you are going to produce is the shakes and bars? Why was this decision made? Did NA find that the products tripped people up if they were in the weightloss phase so decided it was best to discontinue them and push the "real foods" alot more?

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

Dr. Atkins dreamed of developing controlled carbohydrate versions of convenient, nutritious, and great tasting food so that he and all others following his approach to eating could have more satisfying meal options. Atkins Nutritionals was formed with the vision “to change the way the world eats to promote good health”. Our mission is: “To help people enjoy healthier lives, Atkins will be the pioneer and the leader in providing innovative nutritional and information products based on controlled carbohydrate nutritional science and rooted in the Atkins Nutritional Approach”. We have always stood by our vision and mission. We are proud that we have created the ‘low carb category’ for individuals such as you.

There is now overwhelming competition in the category by large food companies such as Kraft. Additionally, it doesn’t help any that the media has a profound effect on people’s perceptions, not only about the Atkins Nutritional Approach but also about products and the ‘low carb craze’. For every research study that supports the safety and efficacy of the approach, there is someone who is interviewed and states an unsubstantiated negative comment in the press. For every initiative we take to educate consumers about the nutritional superiority of Atkins products, another five products that claim to be low carb (but have added sugar, excessive sugar alcohols, Trans fats, little fiber and protein) are put on store shelves. The media has a field day with all of the negatives.

The tsunami of products and damaging media has forced us to quickly react and change. For now, we will be focusing our product manufacturing on bars, shakes, and “better for you” candy under the Atkins Morning Start, Advantage, and Endulge brands. We are also evolving our messages to be more relevant to people’s nutrition needs, but without compromising our vision and mission. We do recognize that Atkins is “out of favor” with the media and culture. However, we do still have a lot to offer. Reducing carbs has become mainstream, even if it isn’t Atkins, and there is a growing awareness of the relationship between health and nutrition. Even if individuals are not following a low carb lifestyle, the principles behind Atkins will still resonate with them. We believe we can continue “to change the way the world eats to promote good health” by educating people on nutrition. Over the next few months, you’ll see us evolve our messaging from “low carb” to “health and nutrition.” We’ll communicate that our products are nutritionally superior and can fit with any popular diet approach or lifestyle. We will also talk about the Net Atkins Count, and how this patent pending methodology substantiates the low glycemic impact of our products, which is important for any diet or lifestyle.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We wish we could provide you with suggestions as you requested to turn this tide around. The only thing we ask is that you stay loyal and recognize that we are on your side.

Our products are sold in 30,000 retail stores in the US which include but are not limited to Wal-Mart, Target, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, Albertson’s, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, GNC and Vitamin Shoppe.

Please be aware that some stores do not carry all Atkins products, or may be temporarily out of the items that you need. You can also order several products from Netrition or the atkins site. [/COLOR]

QUESTION:

Yes please ask her 'as women reach menopause and their metabolisms slow down what are the main things we can do to keep the pounds off and if there are any tricks she knows of to rev up our metabolism?'

I am also interested in if she has heard of adding in certain spices~ if that Truely 'helps' increase metabolism ie: ginger and cayenne.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

You’ve no doubt heard the anonymous prayer that asks for the serenity to accept the things we cannot change. For most of us, this includes the weather, gravity and certain family members. But how about gaining weight in middle age? Is it a fact that, no matter how diligent we are, the pounds will creep on alongside those smile lines and crow’s feet? Here’s good news: Research and experts in the field concur that gaining weight need not be an inevitable side effect of aging.

Gaining weight as we age is all about muscle mass. Between our mid-20s and mid-50s, we lose an average of about one half pound of muscle and add about a pound and a half of fat each year—resulting in a net gain of about one pound. The process is much more gradual in our 20s and speeds up as we get older. The key is in the loss of muscle: Because of this gradual atrophying of muscle tissue, our resting metabolic rate decreases by about 5 percent each year. In the average sedentary American, the resting metabolic rate is responsible for burning about 75 percent of the calories we consume. The more muscle you have, the more energy your body consumes to feed, maintain and repair that tissue.

The good news is that physical activity is a reliable and effective tool in staving off this virtually inevitable assault on our aging bodies. How much activity? Just 30 minutes a day of strength training plus 20 minutes of aerobic exercise should do the trick.

After insulin, Dr. Atkins believed that hormome replacement therapy (HRT) is a leading offender in terms of inhibited weight loss. Menopausal women who take estrogen or an estrogen-progesterone combo have a lot of trouble shedding pounds. In fact, weight gain, water retention and skyrocketing triglyceride levels are well-known side effects of HRT. "There are better, more natural ways to treat menopause symptoms," Dr. Atkins said. "Folic acid in prescription-strength doses, for example, helps minimize many symptoms, as do other nutrients, such as boron, soy isoflavones and herbs such as agnus cactus and dong quai." Also, consume moderate amounts of soy products.

There are limited studies confirming the effectiveness of ginger and cayenne effectiveness to increase metabolism, however, they do have certain health benefits and would not hurt. [/COLOR]

QUESTION:

is it true that soy does slow your metabolism? or is that only the case if you are hypothyroid ?

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

Soy contains lots of phytochemicals along with isoflavones that contribute to estrogenic activity. The isoflavones in soy are labels as both estrogenic and antiestrogenic. If a woman with breast cancer is estrogen receptor positive, then she is advised, conservatively, to consume no more than 2 servings of soy in foods and not to use concentrates or soy supplements. However, if an individual is not a breast cancer survivor with estrogen receptor positive nodes, than soy products are encouraged to decrease the risk of not only cancer but free radical damage to cells and organs. Depending of how much soy and in what products the soy is in, you should not worry. Those with hypothyroid conditions should also limit soy exposure to two servings daily.
[/COLOR]

QUESTION:

I'm sure you'll also ask her about calories and if they recommend any certain levels based on your current weight or goal weight? or if they are strictly worried about counting carbs only?

Oh and what about a question about their net carb thing and what is the science behind being able to subtract some of the carbs? I know there are many people on here who disagree with subtracting sugar alcohols.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

In Dr Atkins early books he did not talk about calories. His belief was that it was not necessary to count calories because the ANA naturally controlled appetite so one only needs to count carbs.His philosophy was that one should eat until satisfied (but not stuffed) and that counting carbs was all the general public reading his books should be concerned about.

However, in private practice, when the nutritionists on his staff would need to trouble shoot, calories where one area that would be investigated. We would just do a spot check to make sure that someone was not eating too little or too much, both of which may cause a stall in weight loss.

So if you are successfully losing weight and or inches there is no need to burden yourself with counting calories as well as carbs. If you are stalled or have reached a plateau, are feeling tired, have trouble with energy levels during exercise, then a spot check is recommended.

I don’t think ones optimal calorie intake is a numerical equation. Metabolism, activity level, age, genetics, muscle mass, gender, weather, and general state of health are all variables that would affect the optimal level. So each person needs to find their own level. I go by the general rule to start with the minimum of 1800 calories for women and 2000 calories for men and adjust from there.

The Net Atkins Count™, is the only count based on the most advanced clinical testing of glycemic impact, shows on average just 2g to 5g of the carbs in the Atkins Advantage product line impact blood sugar.

Here is a news release confirming out patented method from 2003 in an Independent study;

NEWS RELEASE

The Ohio State University
Division of Medical Dietetics

April 11, 2003

REPORT ON ENERGY BAR STUDY ERRED IN GROUPING RESULTS

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A recent report on research from Ohio State University on the effect on insulin and glucose levels produced by eating energy bars erroneously generalized the findings to all bars in the study when in fact, one bar – the Atkins Advantage Bar – showed minimal impact on blood sugar.

The study confirmed that Atkins Advantage Bars produced a significant reduction (71 percent) in plasma glucose levels compared to white bread with similar calorie levels (which served as a control for the study), and a reduction of 26 percent in serum insulin compared with controls. This study demonstrated that substitution of other macronutrients for carbohydrates is effective for reducing post prandial glycemia.

When the study evaluated other moderate and high carbohydrate bars, the insulin response was actually elevated compared with the white bread control. This was not the case with the Atkins Bar. The three bars in the study produced very different results.

The results of the study showed that the Atkins Advantage Bar significantly reduced both blood glucose levels and serum insulin compared to the control and the other bars. The original report of this research inaccurately characterized all bars in the study as a group.[/COLOR]

QUESTION:

I guess I have always wondered about what the other carbohydrates mean on the food labels. Can they be subtracted too or are they only a list of the non desirable carbs? I am looking forward to what she has to say about metabolism for sure!!

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

The Net Atkins Count™, is the only count based on the most advanced clinical testing of glycemic impact, shows on average just 2g to 5g of the carbs in the Advantage product line impact blood sugar.

Our label claims are based on clinical testing of blood sugar responses. Other companies use a subtraction method that subtracts sugar alcohols, fiber, and glycerine. [/COLOR]

CarolynF:

Many of us have had their gallbladders out and still want to do the correct amount of fat that lowcarbing needs.

I'm wondering if the people with no gallbladders should cut back to around 50 percent fat instead of the 65 percent recommended by Atkins?

Just curious how NOT having a gallbladder affects the ingestion of fat.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

You can follow a lower fat version of Atkins. Use fish, poultry, lean meats, and low fat cheese (in moderation) and lots of vegetables. Avoid creamy salad dressing; instead use olive oil and vinegar or a mustard based dressing. Eat nuts only in moderation. Don't fry foods, and use lean cuts of meat. Stay away from processed meats such as bacon and sausage. Supplementing with unsweetened, smooth textured, orange-flavored Metamucil daily will help bulk your stools. Take 1 tablespoon in a full glass of water and drink immediately. [/COLOR]

When you ask about healing damaged metabolisms, my only request is to ask about it even in the context of some severe or prolonged patterns of eating/behavior (ex: having yo-yo'ed for 20 years between anorexic and compulsive binging levels of caloric intake; or 20 years of extremely high carb and extremely low carb eating).

Those examples are from my own life. What I'm looking for is hope that I can heal and lose weight and not walk around in pain anymore.

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

Reaching your goal weight is not—or should not be—about dieting. It's about changing your body, and your mind-set, permanently and for the better. It is—or should be—actually just the opposite of the start-and-stop process that most people consider a diet. I tell my patients that they should plan not just on losing weight, but also on restoring energy and feeling their physical best. All they have to do is exercise regularly, start an intelligent nutritional supplementation plan and eat the healthiest foods imaginable. Sound like a lot? Hardly. In fact, it sounds like a cinch.
On the other hand, anyone who “diets” in the sense that the word has been used in this country for almost a century is clearly not seeking a permanent eating plan. Such folks bought their ticket on the diet bus for a little quick fat removal, and once that's accomplished, they get off at the first available stop and go back to foods that fundamentally make them feel awful. You are not alone.
Then six or ten or whatever months later, they say, "Oops, time for another diet." Such a yo-yo approach is not only an ineffective way to produce a great-looking body, but it could damage your health. And it makes your body progressively resistant to weight loss.
Don’t be like that any more. If you eat healthy foods—think caveman fundamentals: fish, fowl, meat, vegetables, nuts, seeds, berries and, as you approach your goal weight, some low-glycemic fruit, as well as legumes and whole grains—and avoid refined, sugar-laden junk food, then, you’ll be halfway home. Needless to say, you’ll get a lot closer to your desired weight; you can hardly help it!
But let's not pretend eating right is everything. It's just the first thing. Doing Atkins properly is doing yourself a favor up and down the line. It's a sort of conversion. You were issued a body at birth, and chances are it was a pretty functional one. Like most of us, you probably messed around with it and didn't treat it right. Here’s your chance to reacquaint yourself with it and to give it the loving care that will make it hum.

The good news is that any damage you did by messing around with your metabolism can be corrected with exercise and the Atkins lifestyle. How long it takes e will depend on how far down the path you have traveled, and for how long. Just know it can and has been down successfully by all of us. [/COLOR]

QUESTION:

I would like you to ask Colette about the dangers of getting pregnant when you are doing a very low calorie diet. I posted something on the Women's Health site that was from Dr. Grove's book on the importance of good nutrition..

[COLOR="Blue"]ANSWER:

Weight loss is not recommended while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, so the Atkins Lifetime Maintenance phase is ideal during this time. As with all phases of Atkins, build your eating program around protein, including meat, poultry and seafood, and healthy natural fats such as olive and flaxseed oil and avocados. Eat plenty of vegetables and one serving of fruit such as strawberries, blueberries or grapefruit daily. Instead of hydrogenated oils, consume healthy fats, seeds and nuts. Cook meat well but don't burn it—heavily charred meats can be unhealthy. Be sure to drink plenty of water. Try to walk 30 minutes a day at a comfortable pace. Avoid getting overheated during exercise and be sure to get plenty of rest. And have fun, this is a very special time!

Expect to gain at least 27 pounds over the full nine months—which will include baby, placenta and fluid. The weight should all come off a few weeks after delivery. Nursing your baby burns more calories and contracts your uterus, so it's good for both of you.

When individuals follow very low-calorie diets their basal metabolic rate will slow down to compensate for the low caloric intake. This is the body's survival response to preserve its internal organs and muscle mass. If someone is following the Atkins protocol correctly during preconception, she should not be taking in fewer than 1,800 calories daily. After conception calories should be closer to 2000. This energy supply should not cause a drop in the metabolic rate.[/COLOR]

I have been reading these posts for some time and found them informative. Now I would like to join in and ask for advice re:Atkins.

I am a woman, and in week 5 of induction, although I have added some fruit in the fourth week, I generally intake between 20 - 25 grams of carbs a day. I drink plenty of water, decalf tea, and mix up the diet with a variety of vegetables in their proper amounts. I go for poultry and fish - sometimes beef, and do partake in drinking coffee each morning.

Dilemma: I quickly dropped 12 pounds within the first week. I actually felt my body disolving each day. I have not lost a pound since.

I realize that this quandry has been addressed before - but I am hoping that someone will say: stick to it and one morning it will all disappear! Is this the case?

JC... A lot of times people find a slight pause in their weightloss. This is normal.. What could be happening hun is your body might be losing inches now which is better because inches Show! Keep at it sweetie and you will see the pounds start dropping on the scale once more. Perhaps join a challenge in the challenge board.. it will help you stay on track and you can get some extra personalized support.

In fact, I have been losing inches. I do notice that all my clothing fit much looser than before. Which is great. I guess I keep thinking that clothes will suddenly "fall off" me one morning. This is not the case.

I will keep at it for the rest of the winter. It's the perfect time to challenge my will power and exceed my own expectations. I suppose I was thinking the weight would be more rapid and more consistant.

I have been doing low carbs for awhile. I am 65 and am having problems with my hips. This makes regular exercise harder. I live on a hill. Going down is harder that coming up. I found that out when trying to walk the dog. After a while I was limping constantly. Curves also bothers them. The Doctor says that I am not ready for a hip replacement, and when I am it will limit my exercise even more. Is there anything you can suggest for us Senior Citizens.

I have been doing low carbs for awhile. I am 65 and am having problems with my hips. This makes regular exercise harder. I live on a hill. Going down is harder that coming up. I found that out when trying to walk the dog. After a while I was limping constantly. Curves also bothers them. The Doctor says that I am not ready for a hip replacement, and when I am it will limit my exercise even more. Is there anything you can suggest for us Senior Citizens.

I am sorry I didn't see this until now but I did want to answer this question for DebbiAnn and anyone else that might have issues with either hip or knee pain. You should consult a physician and perhaps may need some anti- inflammatories... If you are having problems with hip or joint pains you can do some less strenuous exercises such a yoga. Swimming and water aerobics will help as well. Water aerobics supports the body and reduces the risk of muscle or joint injury.. It places less stress on the joints when stretching, and can allow a greater range of motion. My mom has feet and knee problems and swears by water aerobics. She has lost weight and is more fit then before she started so it really does work. Shes gotten my sister hooked on it as well. Also since you know you have more trouble walking down hill then up you could always drive to a park with a flat walking area and walk there instead of starting out at home. Also your doctor might have some suggestions on what types of exercises will help you.